Apparatus for automatically tuning radio receivers



Feb. 27, 1940. EfM 'f 2,191,606

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TUNING RADIO RECEIVERS Filed on. 18, 1928 4 sheets she-et 1 BcfDEFa-n *wbb mmw Feb. 27, 1940. E. M. BUTLER APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TUNING RADIO RECEIVERS Filed Oct. 18, 1928 4 Shee sh 2 Mir E. M. BUTLER 2,191,606

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TUNING RADIO RECEIVERS Feb. 27, 1940.

Fi e 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 i v I g Q a a mdw Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TUNING RADIO RECEIVERS Application October 18,

21 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically tuning radio receivers.

The invention has for its object the automatic tuning-in of any one of a plurality of predetermined broadcasting or transmitting stations, as

well as stations intermediate thereof, by the simple expedient of merely pressing a button or the like located on the apparatus itself and/or at a point remote therefrom.

The invention comprises, broadly any means and preferably as disclosed and described electrically and/or electromagnetically operated means for automatically, quantitatively and selectively rotating, and, when. the station desired tuned-in, automatically discontinuing rotation of, the shaft of the gang condenser, or other tuning elements, of so-called one-dial receivers, as, for instance, in inductive tuning, where rotatable contactors are caused to tap any one of a plurality of tapped sections of the radio frequency transformers.

The apparatus is provided with a plurality of push-buttons or the like, each adapted to tune-in a different station, frequency or wavelength. There is associated with each button an element or elements which may be adjusted to bring in any predetermined signal, so that when said button has been operated it will bring in the station for which the element has been set.

The apparatus is also provided with buttons which are operated to bring in stations intermediate those for which adjustment has been made as well as the predetermined stations.

There is provided also a remote control which is connected to the apparatus by a connector plug and cord. Said remote control has the same number and arrangement of buttons as are located on the apparatus, and, in addition, is provided with other elements, such asa volume con- 40 trol, cil-and on switch, wavemcter or station indicator, and the like.

In the accompanying drawings there are illustrated practical embodiments of my invention, but it is clear that the apparatus is susceptible of other mechanical and electrical embodiments and modifications which do not depart from the scope and principle thereof.

Fig. l is a front elevation of a practical embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; together with a circuit diagram of the remote control;

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of a modified form 1923, Serial No. 313,201

of said apparatus; 5a and 5b are sequence views;

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation showing the position of cams and switches at zero setting of the dial, rotation being counterclockwise;

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation showing 5 the subsequent position of said cams when the apparatus is tuned to a predetermined station;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are, respectively, top, bottom and cross-sectional views of one embodiment of remote control box;

Fig. 11 is a top view of another form of remote control box.

The apparatus is provided (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) with a reversible motor M having a shaft a which fits into a sleeve 1). Passing through said sleeve 2) and shaft a is a pin 0. Passing also into said sleeve'b is one end of a camshaft d, the other end passing through an ear e of the standard 1. "The sleeve 1) passes through the ear 9 of the standard h. Mounted on the inner end of sleeve 2) is the pin disc 2' of clutch 9', provided with a'pin k which engages an aperture in convex spring disc Z clamped between pin disc 2' and disc ii, the latter being mounted on a bearing 11 having a keyway 0 which rides on a key p projecting from the camshaft. The pressure of the spring disc 1 against disc ii is regulated by locking nut q threaded on said camshaft. Assembled on'the camshaft are a plurality of cams A, B, .C, etc., which are adjusted as described hereafter and fixed in adjusted position by set screws y, y. The cams. are locked together in adjusted position by locking nuts 1 and s. A bracket 75 is mounted on the standards 1, h, to which are attached switches SA, SB, etc. The camshaft d and condenser shaft u of the receiver are con.- nected in a bearing o in the tuning dial w of the receiver.

Referring to clutch i, enough pressure is put on the spring disc so as to make the camshaft rotate with the motor when the latter is in operation; but the pressure of the spring disc against the pin disc is not great enough to cause the motor to rotate with the camshaft when the dial to is manually rotated; in other words, the resistance of the motor to manual rotation is greater than the resistance between the spring disc and pin disc, so that when the camshaft is manually rotated, it will rotate independently of the motor, thereby permitting manual tuning of the receiver.

Cooperating stops 2, 2, are provided on the camshaft and standard ,1 to limit the rotation of the camshaft through a predetermined arc. of approximately 180 degrees.

The principle underlying the invention will best be understood. by referring to Figs. 6 and 7, which illustrate, in a schematic and graphic way, the manner in which the elements, which determine and control the extent and direction of rotation of the motor, operate.

The apparatus is provided with a plurality of cams, A, B, C, D, E, etc., whichare mounted on a shaft connected to the motor and to the gang condensers of the receiver, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cams are first assembled haphazardly on the shaft, a cam being provided for each station to be automatically tuned in. The camshaft, having been connected to the shaft of the receiver, the dial of the receiver is rotated until one extremity of its excursion is reached, say at zero graduation. The dial is then rotated until the first station, for which it is desired to provide an automatic stop, is tuned-in. CamA is then rotated or adjusted on its shaft so that the undercut section X of the cam, which will, for convenience, be called the point of neutrality or inoperativeness, pushes the movable contact SAZ of switch SA into a position where it is making contact with neither stationary contact SAI nor SA3; in other words, both circuits connected to switch SA are open, so that the motor can rotate in neither direction. When this adjustment of cam A has been made, it is immovably secured to the camshaft by a set screw or other means.

The dial of the receiver is then rotated until the second station, for which it "is desired to create an automatic stop, is tuned-in. Cam B is then adjusted in the same manner as cam A with respect to the movable contact SE2 of switch SB, namely, with the portion X of the cam B pushing the movable contact into a position of neutrality. In the same manner are the other cams adjusted and secured in place.

Now, when the dial of the receiver has been returned to zero it will be found that the adjusted cams have the relative positions shown in Fig. 6, and all the movable contacts of switches SA, etc.,

make contact'with the stationary contacts SA3,.

etc.

Now it happens that when SA2--SA3,

SB2--SB3, etc., are closed, it permits, when their respective circuits are energized, the motor to operate in a counterclockwise direction, and the cams will rotate with the motor until the switch made operative, as described hereafter, is made inoperative by the cam associated with it, namely, when the movable contact of the switch reaches X of thecam. Since the point at which this takes place happens to be the point where a station has been tuned in originally, this station will be tuned in again automatically.

Fig. '7 shows this state of affairs. In this in stance, station C has been tuned-in for by depressing the proper button. The motor has rotated in a counterclockwise direction, because SC2SC3 was closed when the circuit thereto was energized. Cam C has rotated with the motor until X of the cam pushed the movable contact of the switch, SC into neutral. At this point the motor is automatically stopped, and the station tuned for has been brought in.

However, the other cams have been rotated a like amount with cam C so that at the point where station C is tuned-in, or, what is the same thing, the switch SC is in neutral, the cams'have the positions shown in Fig. '7.

While cam C was rotating, cams A and B rotated beyond the point of neutrality with respect to the movable contacts of their associated switches, and. pushed said contacts from stationary contacts SA3, SE3, to contacts SAI and SBI, respectively, closing the circuits to the motor permitting it, when said circuits are energized, to rotate in a clockwise direction. And since, in order to get back to the point of neutrality of cams A and B, or, what is the same thing, tune-in stations A or B, it is necessary to rotate the cams in a clockwise direction, the switches are automatically set by said cams for such rotation. So that by energizing switches SA or SB, the motor and cams will rotate in a clockwise direction until cam A or cam B releases its pressure against the movable contacts and permits them to assume a neutral position, automatically Stopping rotation of the motor.

It will be observed that in tuning for station C the cams D and E have not been rotated sufficiently to affect the position of the movable contacts SDZ, SE2; in other words, the original setting of switches SD and SE has not been altered. Energizing the circuits to either of said switches will cause the motor to rotate in a counterclockwise direction until the cam D or E, as the case may be, pushes the movable contact into a neutral position.

Assuming station E to be tuned-in, then the cams A, B, C and D will bear against the movable contacts SA2, 832, etc., to close circuits to said switches permitting the motor to rotate in a clockwise direction when any of said circuits is energized.

Referring to Fig. 4, we have a circuit diagram of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, and employing the principles illustrated by the schematic Figures 6 and '7.

Current for operating the motor M is taken from any suitable source I. It is assumed, in this instance, that the voltage of the source is high, say 110 volts. In order to obviate the use of this high voltage in the push-button circuits, where it may shock the operator, there is provided a step-down transformer 2 for stepping down the voltage to said button circuits. The primary 3 of said transformer is connected at one end to the source I, and the other end of said primary is connected through a switch 6 to the other line of said source. The secondary 4 is connected to what may be generally referred to as the push-button circuit. The conductor 5 connecting one end of the primary to one of the terminals of the source I is provided with a switch 6 for turning the current to the apparatus ofi and on, and a similar switch I, mounted on a remote control box, hereafter described, is also connected in series with said conductor.

A conductor 8 connects field coil MFZ of the motor M to one side of source I and a conductor 9 connects the other side to stationary contacts I0 and II of switches I2 and I3 of the multiple relay switches RSI and RS2. The movable contact I4 of switch I2 is in turn connected by another conductor I5 to one'of'the brushes MBZ of the motor. The movable contact I6 of switch I3 is connected by conductor I! to the brush MBI of the motor. Connected also to the brush MB2 by conductor I5 is the stationary contact I8 of the switch I9 of RS2. The movable contact 20 of switch I9 is connected to the field coil lVLFI of the motor by conductor 2|. The stationary contact 22 of the switch 23 of relay switch RSI is connected to brush MBI of the motor by conductor I1, and the movable contact 24 of said switch is connected to field coil MFI by conductor 2I.

The switch I2 of relay switch RSI is adapted to open and close the circuit MB2-MF2 of the motor; switch I3 of RS2, MBI-MFZ; switch 23 of RSI, MFI-MBI, and switch I9 of RS2, MFIMB2 thereof.

Relay switch RSI is provided with a further switch 25, the stationary contact 26 of which is connected by conductor 2! to one terminal of an electromagnet 28, the other terminal thereof being connected by conductor 29 to the terminal 4a of secondary 4 of the step-down transformer. The movable contact 30 of switch 25 is connected to the stationary contacts S33, S03, SD3 oi the cam-actuated make and break switches SB, SC and SD, by a common conductor 3I. The stationary contact 32 of switch 33 of RS2 is connected by common conductor 34 to the stationary contacts SBI, SCI, SDI of switches SB, SC, SD, and movable contact 35 of switch 33 is connected by conductor 36 to one terminal of electromagnet 3'1, the other terminal being connected by conductor 38 to conductor 29 to terminal 4a.

Common conductor 3I is connected by con ductor 39 to a common conductor 40 which in turn is connected to stationary contacts M and 42 of selector switches 43 and 44, respectively, one on the apparatus and the other on the remote control box; and common conductor 34 is connected by conductor 45 to common conductor 46 connecting the stationary contacts 41 and 48 of selector switches 49 and 50 respectively, the former being located on the remote control box. The movable contacts 5|, 52, 53 and 54 of switches 49, 43, 50 and 44 respectively are connected by common conductor 55 leading from the terminal 41) of the secondary. Also connected to said common conductor 55 are the stationary contacts 56, 51, 58, 59, and BI of locking switches 62, 63, E4, 65, 5B and 61 respectively, the first three being located on the remote control box and the latter three on the apparatus.

The movable contacts 68 and B9 of switches 62 and 55 respectively are connected by common conductor I3 to movable contact S132 of switch SB. Movable contacts II and I2 of switches 33 and 66 respectively are connected by common conductor I3 to the movable contact $02 of switch SC, and movable contacts I4 and 15 of switches 64 and 61 respectively are connected by common conductor I5 to movable contact SD2 of switch SD.

The circuit shown in Fig. 4 is provided with three automatic circuits for the purpose of illustration, but the apparatus may be provided with any number of such circuits.

Beside the aforesaid automatic circuits, there are provided two additional circuits, one for producing clockwise and the other counterclockwise rotation of the motor, but these circuits are not automatic. They are intended to be used when a station for which no automatic stop has been provided is desired to be tuned in. Push button H controls the clockwise rotation, while I8 controls the counterclockwise rotation of the motor. Buttons Il and I8 are not self-locking as are the automatic buttons.

When button 71 is depressed, it will close the switch 50 and energize electromagnet 31, the circuit being: beginning with the stationary contact 48 of switch 50, conductors 45 and 34, switch 33, conductor 36, electromagnet 3I, conductors 38 and 29, secondary 4, common conductor 55,

and movable contact 53 of switch 50. When the electromagnet is energized it attracts the bell crank armature I3 which pushes the movable contacts I4, 24 and 30 of switches I2, 23 and 25 respectively so as to close switches I2 and 23 and open switch 25. When the switch I2 is closed current is delivered from the source to MBZ-MFZ of the motor which causes the motor to rotate in a clockwise direction. It will be shown hereafter that when the corresponding switch I3 of relay switch RS2 is closed the motor will rotate in a reverse or counterclockwise direction.

When button I8 is depressed it closes switch 44 and energizes electromagnet 28, the circuit being: beginning with stationary contact 42, conductors 43 and 33, switch 25, conductor 2I, electromagnet 28, conductor 29, secondary 4, common conductor 55 and stationary contact 54 of switch 44. When electromagnet 28 is energized it attracts bell crank armature 8.3, which in turn pushes the movable contacts I5, 20 and 35 so as to close switches I3 and I9 and open switch 33 of relay switch RS2. It has been pointed out that when switch I3 is closed the motor will rotate in a counterclockwise direction; this is so because the current source is connected across MBIMF2 of the motor; in other words, current passes through the motor in a direction the reverse of MBZ-JVIFZ.

It will be understood that when button 11 or I8 is depressed the motor will stop only when said buttons are released by the operator; that is, the motor does not stop at any predetermined point independently (automatically) of the will of the operator. For such automatic action there are provided other buttons and elements to be hereafter described.

It will be observed from a digestion of the foregoing description that the apparatus is provided with two electromagnetically operated relays which control the direction of rotation of the motor, one RSI for clockwise and the other RS2 for counterclockwise rotation thereof In expanding the apparatus for automatic operation, there is connected in parallel with the relay circuits, or, what amounts to the same thing, in parallel with both selector circuits, twocircuit switches SB, SC, etc., actuated by cams B, C, D (Fig. 4), as the case may be, to operate relay switch RSI to cause clockwise rotation of the motor, which is the condition of switch SB, or to operate relay switch RS2 to cause counterclockwise rotation of the motor, which is the condition of SD. In addition, the switches SB, SC, etc., are capable of assuming a position where the circuits to both relays RSI and RS2 are kept open, which happens to be the condition of switch C.

At this point it may crystallize the understanding of the invention by indicating that the cam switch is a combination of the manually oper-- ated selector switches 50 and 44, and that for the hand of the operator there is partially substituted a cam. Thus each combination of cam and switch is, in a manner of speaking, the partial equivalent of the hand of the operator and switches 50 and 44.

The operation, circuits and elements of the automatic system are as follows: for each automatic station there is provided a push-button 8| which is locked, when depressed, in the manner hereinafter described. When the push button of switch 55, for instance, is depressed, it closes the switch and operates the relay switch RSI for clockwise rotation of the motor, the circuit being: starting with the movable contact 69 of switch 65, common conductor 19, movable contact S132 and stationary contact SBI of switch SB, common conductor 34, switch 33, conductor 39, electromagnet 31, conductors 38 and 29, secondary 4, common conductor 55 to stationary contact 59 of switch 95; inother words the effect of depressing the button of switch 95 is the same as though button 11 were depressed. This will be clear when it is observed that both switches 65 and 59 are connected across common conductors 34--55 in parallel. It will be observed also that what ultimately determines which relay shall be operated is the position of the cam with respect to its coacting switch. If the movable contact is on the greater cur- Vature of the cam, as is the casein SB, it will close the switch which operates relay RSI for clockwise rotation; if the movable contact is on X of the cam it leaves the switch open, as is the case in SC, then neither relay will be operated. If on the other hand the movable contact is along the lesser curvature, as is the case in SD, the switch operating relay RS2 for counterclockwise rotation will be closed.

Referring to the automatic circuit for station D: when button 8| is depressed it closes switch 61 and operates relay RS2, the circuit being: beginning with the movable contact 15 of switch 61, conductor 19, SD2-SD3 of switch SD, conductor 21, electromagnet 28, conductor 29, secondary 4, common conductor 55 and stationary contact SI of switch 91. Ashas been explained, when electromagnet 28 is energized it operates relay RS2 to cause counterclockwise rotation of the motor. In other words, the effect of depressing the button of switch 61 is the same as if button 18 were depressed. This will be clear when it is pointed out that both switches 51 and 44 are connected in parallel across common conductors 21-55.

The remote control box is provided with automatic buttons 9I and switches 62, 63, 94, the latter of which are connected in parallel with switches 35, 69, 91, of the apparatus. The effect of closing any of the switches 52, 63, 64, is the same as if the corresponding switch 35, 69, 51 were closed. The remote control box is also provided with selector buttons 11a, 18a and selector switches 49, 43, the latter being respectively connected in parallel with selector switches 59, 44 of the apparatus. The effect of closing switch 49 or 43 is the same as if the corresponding switch 59 or 44 were closed.

The remote control is also provided with an off and on switch 1, a volume control 82, and a station indicator 33, which may be of the meter or other type.

Should it not be undesirable or inconvenient to use the high voltage of house current mains, the electromagnets may be dispensed with, in which event the circuit shown in Fig. 5 may be used.

As in the previous instance, field coil MFZ of the motor is connected by conductor IQI to one line of the current source I92. Connected to the other line is an oii and on switch 9. Brush m2 of the motor is connected by common conductor I94-to common conductor I95 to movable -contact I96 of switch I91 of selector switch SSI switch SS2 and stationary contact H3 of switch H4 of automatic switch AS.

Brush MBI is connected by conductor H5 to common conductor IIB to stationary contact H1 of switch H9 of selector switch SSI and to movable contact II9 of switch I29 of automatic switch AS; also to comrnon conductor I2I to movable contact I22 of switch I23 of selector switch SS2 and stationary contact I24 of switch I25 of automatic switch AS.

Field coil lVlFIis connected by common cond'uctor I23 to common conductor I21 to movable contact I28 of switch H8 of selector switch SSI and stationary contact I29 of switch I29 of automatic switch AS; also to common conductor I39 to stationary contact I3I of switch H2'of selector switch SS2 and stationary contact I32 of switch H4 of automatic switch AS.

The other side of the source I92 is connected by common conductor I33 to stationary contact I34 of switch I23 of selector switch SS2, to stationary contact I35 ofswitch I91 of selector switch SSI, and to stationary contact I36 of switch I31 operated by the automatic button I38, the movable contact I43 of said switch I31 being connected by conductor I39 to movable contact I49 of switch I25 of automatic switch AS.

When selector button MI is depressed, it closes both switches I91 and H8 of selector switch SSI. Switch I91 is connected across lVlB2-MF2 of the motor and switch H8 is connected across MFIM BI thereof, which connections produce clockwise rotation of the motor.

When selector button I42 is depressed, both switches H2 and. I23 of selector switch SS2 are closed. Switch I23 is connected across MEI- MFZ of the motor and switch H2 across MFI- MB2 of the motor to produce counterclockwise rotation thereof.

It will be observed that in the case of selector button Hi the current passes through the motor in a direction the reverse of that of button Referring to the automatic system of Fig. 5, there is provided a self-locking push-button I38, which, when depressed, closes switch I31, the stationary contact I36 of which leads to line by common conductor I33 and the movable contact I43 by conductor I39 to the movable contact I49 of the automatic switch AS.

Fig. 5 shows the automatic switch AS set for counterclockwise rotation of the motor, the switches H4 and I25 corresponding to and being connected in parallel with switches H2 and I23 respectively of the counterclockwise selector switch SS2.

Fig. 5a shows the automatic switch AS open or in neutral position, while Fig. 5b shows the automatic switch AS set for clockwise rotation of the motor, switches I29 and I99 thereof being closed and corresponding to and being connected in parallel with switches H8 and I91 respectively of the clockwise selector switch SSI.

It will be observed that the automatic switch AS combines both selector switches SSI and SS2, and which set of switches shall be made operative, as well as both kept open, is determined by the varying position of the cam, as will be clear from a scrutiny of Figs. 5, 5a and 51).

When contact I32 is adjacent the lesser curvature of the cam, switches I25 and H4 are closed. When contact I 32 is on X of the cam, it is pushed away so as to open said switches and leave switches I29 and I99 open. This is the position shown in Fig. 5a.

Should contact I32 be on the greater curvature of the cam, switches I20, I09, are closed and switches I25, H4, remain open, so that should the automatic button be depressed the motor will rotate in a clockwise direction until contact reaches X of the cam, when the automatic switch AS is entirely opened, as fully explained in connection with the description. of Figs. 6 and 7.

Figs. 8, 9 and .10 are top, bottom and crosssectional views of one form of remote control box adapted to be connected by a suitable cable or otherwise to the apparatus above described.

The remote control box 208 comprises a base 202 on which is mounted a cover and a plate 286, the latter being attached to the base by screws 205. The cover is provided with apertures 266 through which project automatic buttons 8! and selector buttons TI, 18 (Fig. 4).

The cover is also aperturcd to permit the shaft 28? of volume control 82, which happens to be a high resistance rheostat, to project therefrom and receive a knob 2559 whereby the same may be rotated. Mounted on said cover is a knob 2H? for operating an off and on switch i, Fig. i.

The device for locking the push buttons 8! is well known in the art. It comprises a series of levers or strips 3M2 fastened at one end 213 to plate 204, and the strips are clamped near said end by a bar 254 secured to the plate 204 by screws 215, ZIB.

The strips are twisted 2H5 near the other ends 36 thereof through an angle of 90 degrees so as to be insertable in the slotted lower ends 2!! of push-buttons 3!, H and i8, and said buttons are secured to said strips by pins 7H8.

Depending from plate 204 is a hinge 2i 9 to which is attached a locking bar 220. The looking device operates as follows: when one of the buttons t! is depressed it pushes the strip 2l2 connected to it down. The end 80 of the strip is adapted to impinge against the locking bar and push it aside. When the strip has been depressed the maximum amount the locking bar springs back into its original position and the free end of the strip is held beneath it. The depressed button is released upon pressing another button, whether 8!, ill or 78, because, in the case of buttons 8!, when the second button is depressed the free end of the strip attached thereto impinges against the locking bar and pushes it aside. permitting the first mentioned strip to spring back into place, and the secondmentioned strip will be locked under the bar. Selector buttons i1, '58, release any of the depressed buttons iii in the same manner, but are not adapted to look under the bar, because said buttons ii, I3, are arranged to be depressed only part of the distance of buttons 8!.

Adjacent the aforesaid buttons are suitable indicia 22! corresponding to the stations they are adapted to tune in.

Fig. ll. shows another form of remote control box 239. This box is provided with an off and on switch l, volume control 82, automatic and selector buttons BI, 77, i8 and a meter form of station indicator 23L The meter here employed is a voltmeter, the terminals 233, of which are connected respectively to one terminal 234 of a potentiometer 235 and the movable contactor 236 thereof. The potentiometer is insulatively mounted on the condenser shaft u (Fig. 1), and the movable contactor is adapted to travel correspondingly with the dial attached to said condenser shaft, so that when the dial is at zero, for instance, the voltmeterv shall be at zero, and so on. The dial of the voltmeter is suitably calibrated to indicate the wavelength or frequency to which the receiver is tuned. The potentiometer may be connected to the six volt terminals of the power supply or to any other source.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising reversible motor driving means, a tuning device operated thereby, adjustable elements operable therewith, and circuit making and breaking means coacting with said elements to cause said driving means to automatically rotate said elements in either one of two directions as well as to cause the automatic discontinuance of operation of said driving means at a predetermined point in the movement of said elements.

2. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising a. reversible motive means, a tuning device connected thereto, means for energizing said motive means, adjustable selector elements operable by said motive means and circuit making and breaking means coacting with said elements to permit rotation of said motive means in either one of two directions as well as to cause the automatic discontinuance of rotation of said motive means at a predetermined point in the operation of the motive means.

3. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising a tuning device, a reversible motor for driving the tuning device, means for energizing the motor, and station selectors operable by said motor, said selectors being operable to deenergize said motor at selected positions.

4. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising reversible motor means, a tuning device operable thereby, means for energizing the motor means, switches controlled by said motor means, each of said switches being capable of independent adjustment for a predetermined station, one switch acting to cause the motor means to rotate in a clockwise direction, one switch acting to rotate the motor means in a counterclockwise direction and the other switch acting to deenergize the motor at a position according to a predetermined station.

5. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising reversible driving means, a tuning device operated thereby, means for energizing the driving means, station selectors operable by said driving means and independently adjustable with respect to one another and associated with means for energizing the driving means and control switches for energizing the driving means to rotate it in one of two directions.

6. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising reversible power means, a tuning device connected thereto, means for energizing the power means, selector switches for deenergizing the power means at selected positions of the tuning devices, said switches being operable by the power means and independently adjustable relative to one another for predetermining the selected positions and control switches connected to the means for energizing the power means initially.

7. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising a reversible driving means operated through electro-magnetically operated switches, a radio tuning device connected to the driving means, means for energizing the driving means, adjustable selector means operable by said driving means, and circuit making and breaking means coacting with said selector means to cause operation of said driving means in either of two directions as determined by the position of the tuning device as well as to cause the automatic discontinuance of operation of said driving means at a point predetermined by the adjustment of the selector means and the particular circuit making means actuated.

8. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising reversibly operated driving means, adjustable elements operable therewith, circuit making and breaking means coacting with said elements to cause said driving means to automatically operate said elements a predetermined distance in one of two directions as Well as to cause the automatic discontinuance of operation of said driving means at a predeterminedpoint in the move ment of one of said elements, and independent means for operating said driving means.

9. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising a reversible motive device, a tuning device operated thereby, means for energizing the motive device, adjustable selector elements movable by said motive device, circuit making and breaking means coacting with said elements to cause rotation of said motive device in a direction predetermined by the actuation of said circuit making means as well as to cause the automatic discontinuance of rotation thereof at a predetermined point in the movement of the selected element, and independent means for operating saidmotive device in one direction or the other.

10. Automatic tuning apparatus comprising a reversible motive device, an adjustable element of a radio apparatus operated thereby, adjustable selector elements movable by the motive device, circuit making and breaking means coacting with said elements to permit operation of said motive device in either of two directions determined by the position of the selector elements as well as to cause stopping thereof at a predetermined point in the movement of a selector element, and a plurality of station selector manuals coacting with said circuit making and breaking means for initiating energization of said motive device.

11. The combination with a tuning member of a radio receiver, of a plurality of adjustable station selective elements and reversible motive means controlled thereby to tune in any one of a group of selected stations represented by said elements.

12. The combination with an adjustable controlling element of a radio receiving system, of means connected with said element acting upon operation to move said element in either of two directions automatically determined by the position of said means to a desired position, the connection of said meanswith said element being adjustable whereby said desired position may be adjustably predetermined.

13. The combination, with an adjustable controlling element of a radio receiving system, and an adjusting manual for said element, of additional means including a reversible motor for adjusting said element including a member adjustable with respect to said manual and acting upon operation to move said element in either direction to a predetermined position, the direc-- tion in which said element will be moved by the operation of said means being automatically determined .by the position of said member at the time of operation of said means.

14. In an automatic apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a movable tuning element, a reversible electro-motive device connected to said element, circuits for said device for energizing it, and a plurality of means included in said circuits for energizing the circuits to operate said device in either direction to move the tuning element to a predetermined static setting depending upon which of said plurality of means is actuated.

15. In an automatic apparatus of the type described. the combination comprising a movable tuning element, a reversible electro-motive device connected to said element, circuits for said device for energizing it, a plurality of means forming part of said circuits for energizing them, and other means driven by said electro-motive device and included in said circuits for de-energizing said device when the tuning element is at the setting predetermined by the actuation of the particular means for energizing said circuits.

16. In an automatic tuning apparatus, the combination with a movable tuning element of a reversible electric motive device connected to said element and a plurality of means for energizing said motive device to operate it in either direction to cause it to move said element to a desired static setting predetermined by the actuation of the one of said plurality of means corresponding to that setting of the tuning element.

17. In an automatic tuning apparatus the combination with a movable tuning element of a reversible electric motive means connected to i said element, circuits for said motive means including a plurality of control switches for operating it in either direction, and de-energizing means in said circuits and operatively driven by said motive means whereby the motive means is operated in either direction to effect a setting of said tuning element predetermined by the actuation of the control switch corresponding to that setting.

18. In an automatically adjustable apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a movable element to be adjusted to predetermined positions and adapted to be manually adjusted to any desired position, a reversible driving means for said element to move it, continuously connected coupling means between said driving means and element whereby the element may be driven by the driving means in either direction, and means connected to said driving means for driving it in either direction to adjust said element to predetermined settings, said coupling means being inoperative to move said driving means when said element is manually adjusted.

19. The combination with the tuning element of a radio apparatus, of a plurality of adjustable station selective elements, motive means for operating'said tuning element and said selective elements, a plurality of means connected to said motive means and interconnected with said selective means whereby the tuning element tunes said apparatus to a particular wave length predetermined by the actuation of the one of said plurality of means corresponding to that wave length setting, and means in said circuits by which the tuning element is adjustable to any wave length desired within its range irrespective of the selective elements.

20. In a tuning device for radio apparatus, the combination comprising an adjustable tuning element, a reversible power apparatus connected to said tuning element for driving it, selector devices driven by said power apparatus, circuits including said power apparatus and devices, said devices acting to interrupt said circuits to stop the power apparatus at predetermined points, and a plurality of means in said circuits and connected with said devices to start said power apparatus in the proper direction depending upon the position of the selector devices, said selector devices acting to stop the motor at a point corresponding to the particular one of the plurality of means that has been actuated.

21. In a tuning device for radio apparatus, the combination comprising an adjustable tuning element, reversible motor means connected to said tuning element for driving it, selector devices driven by said motor means, circuits including said motor means and devices, said devices acting to interrupt said circuits to stop the motor means at predetermined points, a plurality of means in said circuits and connected with said devices to start said motor means in the proper direction depending upon the position of the selector devices, said selmtor devices acting to stop the motor means at a point corresponding to the particular one of the plurality of means that has been actuated, an indicating device, and means connected thereto and driven by the motor means and tuning element to display at a distance the setting of the tuning element.

EDGAR M. BUTLER. 

